The NBA trade rumors are changing by the hour ahead of February 6 deadline. Catch the freshest rumors below.
BEAL WON’T WAIVE FOR CHICAGO
There has been much speculati0n about the team that Bradely Beal would potentially waive his no-trade clause for.
The latest whispers are that the Bulls and the Suns have been in discussion about Beal, Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective.
“We’re dancing around this because I’ve just been burnt on aggregation, but the bottom line is that the Bulls and Suns have talked on the concept of Bradley Beal ending up in Chicago (and it) has been discussed,” Windhorst.
“I’m not saying it’s going to happen. I’m not saying it’s close or whatever. Obviously Beal has a no-trade clause … I just can’t believe that Chicago would do that deal. Maybe it’s never going to happen but it’s been discussed.”
As Windy said, maybe it will never eventuate, and that seems to be the case as Fred Katz from The Athletic reports that Beal won’t be moving to Chicago anytime soon.
“Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal will not waive his no-trade clause to go to the Chicago Bulls, a source familiar with the three-time All-Star’s thinking told The Athletic,” Katz said.
“The Bulls had been mentioned as one team the Suns could use to facilitate a hypothetical trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.”
LAVINE WANTS TO STAY IN CHI-TOWN, NUGGETS OUT OF RACE
After wanting out of Chicago for a while ago, LaVine now prefers to remain a Bull past the February 6 deadline, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line says.
Although he may not be pushing for a trade, he might not have much choice in the matter if the Bulls decide to finally offload his enormous contract.
As for suitors, it looks as though the Nuggets won’t be one. Since the LaVine to Denver rumors, Jamal Murray has ramped up, as has interest in LaVine, so it’s unlikely he’ll be a target for the 2023 champions, Bennett Durando at the Denver Post reports.
KUZMA GROWING IMPATIENT WITH WIZARDS
Kyle Kuzma “is less patient now with the Wizards’ direction”, Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports.
Kuz recently said how he hadn’t chatted with the front office about the trade deadline, but has that changed?
After the team’s loss to the Suns, he said he wasn’t trying as hard to fit in with team’s ethos of developing the younger players.
“I think today I just decided to be myself and not really just try to fit into everything that we’re doing here, and just really played in the moment,” Kuzma said. “I think my mom helped me out with that. I saw her today.”
Asked immediately what he meant by playing in the moment and not trying to fit in, he said “I mean just not trying to fit into what we’re trying to do here. Just being more assertive, demanding the ball, not just going out there and trying to let people develop. Just playing my game.”
Kuz’s injuries and his general struggles this season may have lowered his trade value, but Robbins says “his contract features descending year-by-year guaranteed salaries that would make him a less risky acquisition for title contenders.”